On the Lines of Deepest Water around the British Isles

Abstract

By drawing on a chart a line traversing the deepest soundings along the English Channel and the Eastern Coast of England and Scotland, continuing it along the 100-fathom-line on the Atlantic side of Scotland and Ireland, and connecting with it the line of deepest soundings along St. George's Channel, an unequal-sided hexagonal figure is described around the British Isles, and a pentagonal figure around Ireland. A hexagonal polygon may be similarly defined around the Isle of Arran. These lines were described in detail by the author, who pointed out that they limited areas similar to the polygonal form that stony or earthy bodies take in shrinking, either in the process of cooling or in drying. The relations of the 100-fathom-line to the promontories, the inlets, and general contour of the coast were dwelt upon; and the bearings that certain lines drawn across the British Isles from the projecting angles of the polygon appear tov have on the strike and other conditions of the strata were described.